Summer is finally in full swing and fairgrounds throughout the state are getting ready for their county fairs.
Northern Illinois is no exception. The Kane County Fair runs July 17-21 with new and returning favorites this year, said fair board president Larry Breon.
“We are going to have cowgirl barrel racing this year,” he said. You’ll find the cowgirls at the grandstand on July 19.
“Last year we had a wine tasting for the first time and that was pretty successful. So we’re doing that again,” he said.
Wine will be provided by three local wineries: Prairie State Winery from Genoa, August Hill Winery from Utica and Galena Cellars from Geneva. Buy 10 tickets for $10 and get a souvenir glass.
“If you like the wine, you can purchase a bottle to take home,” he said.
The staples return to the fair, like carnival rides, bands on the Miller Light sound stage, pig racing and a demolition derby.
“It’s always been very popular,” he said of the demolition derby.
The MindWorks interactive exhibit in the Prairie Events Center is back, as is All Star Sports Instruction with batting cages, basketball hoops and football tossing.
“The nice part about those events, if it’s warm, parents can sit down and relax and the kids can have a good time in the air conditioning. It’s all free,” Breon said. “Bingo is coming back. Elburn Lions Club did that for us and are doing it again.”
The 4-H program is the main reason for the fair, of course, and it’s still a big part of the Kane County Fair, he said.
“4-H is more than just dress making and livestock and crops,” he said. “It has evolved over the years … and we give the 4-Hers many opportunities to display their projects. Rocketry, ornamental horticulture, entomology — all types of things that 25 years ago weren’t even involved.”
He hopes fairgoers take a look at the many varied 4-H projects when they come to the fair.
Meanwhile, at the Lake County Fair July 24-28, an old favorite is making an appearance, said Lauren Kaplan, marketing manager of the Lake County Fair.
“We’ve got the monster truck show and this year we have the original Bigfoot here,” she said. “So that’s pretty exciting. We have also have the Street Drum Corps. It’s a drum band and they use garbage cans and difference recycled products and create music. They’re a roaming show throughout the fair.”
They also have the Canine Stars stunt dog show this year and Miller’s Petting Zoo and Zoo Choo train ride. There’s banana derby racing and the Hambone Express pig racing.
The Timber Works Lumberjack Show, which made its Lake County Fair debut last year, will return, she said.
Indoors, there’s the Ag Adventure Show presented by the Lake County Farm Bureau. The Lake County Farm Heritage Association has an area with antique tractors kids can ride, she said. These activities reflect Lake County Fair’s base in agriculture and 4-H.
“Last year we did Bloody Mary Bingo and we’re doing that again this year,” she said. “To add to that, on Saturday … we’re doing Margarita Happy Hour.”
Bloody Mary Bingo is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28 in Festival Square and Margarita Happy Hour is from 2 to 5 p.m. July 27 in the East Beer Garden.
New this year is a souvenir cup food vendors will be selling. Also new is Taste of the Fair, which will find certain food vendors offering taste samples for $3. That’s happening July 24-26.
“It’s pretty exciting because people don’t have to spend $9 or $10 on one place and get full; they can check out everybody’s items,” she said. “Every (vendor) is going to be different, there will be no duplicates.”
Kaplan thinks the Lake County Fair offers something for everyone.
“We have great food and really good live entertainment, including music and all the shows. Once you pay to get in, all the shows are free. There is no extra charge.”
Kane County Fair
July 17-21. 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. 630-584-6926; www.kanecountyfair.com or facebook.com/events/534319337098372. Hours are 3 to 11 p.m. July 17 (carnival only); 3-11 p.m. July 18, noon to midnight July 19-20; noon to 10 p.m. July 21. Admission: Free July 17; $5 July 18 ages 3 and up; seniors and military with ID free until 5 p.m.; $10 adults July 19-21; children 3-12 $5. Free for children under 3. Season tickets $20.
Free Midway entertainment includes <iller Lite stage, Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Kid Bucks game show, Balster’s Sheer Magic Show, Friendly Farms petting zoo, appearances by Ozzie and Annie of the Kane County Cougars, Kiddy Land, Bengal tigers show, Kane County Dairies to Prairies exhibit and a car show running July 20-21.
Grandstand entertainment:
July 18: Monster truck show, 7 p.m., $10
July 19: Professional Championship Bullriders and Cowgirls, 7 p.m.; $14 adults, $7 kids 5-10, kids under 5 free
July 20: Championship Cowgirl Barrel Racing, 1 p.m., $10; and Professional Championship Bull Riders and cowgirls, 7 p.m.; $14
July 21: Demolition derby, 4 p.m., $10
Miller Lite stage:
July 18: Libido Funk Circus, 7 p.m.
July 19: Hillbilly Rockstarz, 8p.m.
July 20: Hi Infidelity, 8 p.m.
July 21: 7th Heaven, 7 p.m.
Lake County Fair
July 24-28. 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. 847-680-7200; www.lcfair.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 24-25; 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. July 26-27; and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 28. Tickets: $10; $5 for seniors 65 and older and children ages 5-12. Children age 4 and under and active military in uniform are admitted free. Active military, veterans and families with ID $5, free July 27. Grandstand events included with admission. Grass parking free; paved lot $10.
New at the Lake County Fair is the Taste of the Fair.
The Festival Square Stage will have bands like 7th Heaven July 24, Brecken Miles July 25, Too White Crew July 26, Saddlebrook July 27 and Libido Funk Circus July 28.
Each day will also feature live entertainment in the East Grandstand Beer Garden and the West Grandstand Beer Garden. The Blue Ribbon Stage will showcase demonstrations and talent competitions.
Grandstand entertainment:
July 24 and 25: Monster Truck Show, 7:30 p.m.
July 26: Tough Trucks Demolition Derby, 6 p.m.
July 27: Pro Rodeo Stampede, 2 and 7 p.m.
July 28: Total Destruction Sunday Demolition Derby, 1 p.m.
DuPage County Fair
July 24-28. 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. 630-668-6636; www.dupagecountyfair.org. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Tickets: $15 for adults ages 13-61, $8 children 3-12; $7.50 for seniors 62 and older. Children 2 and under free. Tickets includes entry to all grandstand shows, thrill show, dinosaur show, rodeo, concerts and demo derby.
The DuPage County Fair turns 65 this year. In addition to 4-H exhibits and a carnival, the fair will have entertainment like Istvan and his Imaginary Band, sword swallower Dan Meyer, Kid Davie Magic Show and Miss Jamie’s Farm.
The West Suburban Homeschool Band will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with “The Sounds of 1969” at 2 p.m. July 24. The parade and opening ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. July 24. Other entertainment includes Wayne Messmer at 3 p.m. July 25, The Neverly Brothers at 7 p.m. July 25, Michael Lynch at 8 p.m. July 26, Love and Thunder at 7:30 p.m. July 27, and Isaiah Grass at 4 p.m. July 27.
There will be contests like a Stinky Sneaker, talent, karaoke, watermelon eating, pedal pull and pie eating.
Grandstand entertainment:
July 27: Latting IPRA Sanctioned Rodeo, 2 p.m.
July 28: Demolition Derby, 2 p.m.
Kendall County Fair and 4-H Show
Aug. 1-4. 10826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 1, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Aug. 2-3, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 4. 630-553-2860; www.kendallcountyfair.org. Tickets: $5 adults; $4 for children ages 5-13; $5 for seniors. Grandstand entertainment included with admission.
The Kendall County Fair will have 4-H exhibits, an antique tractor parade, kids pedal pull, magician Rob Thompson on the Family Stage, Savvy A-Fair Hand Crafter’s Market Aug. 3, church service Aug. 4 and mud volleyball tournament Aug. 4. Contests include watermelon eating, sweet corn eating and bicycle decorating.
Main stage entertainment includes Recycle the Day Aug. 1, Cadillac Groove at 5:30 and Back Country Roads at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 2, Blue Sky Blind at 7 p.m. and Eric Chesser at 9 p.m. Aug. 3 and Peach’s Beach Party at 1 p.m. Aug. 4.
Grandstand entertainment
Aug. 2: ISP truck and tractor pulls, 6 p.m.
Aug. 3: Truck and tractor pull, 4 p.m.
Aug. 4: Ramer’s Demolition Derby, 2 p.m.
Will County Fair
Aug. 21-25. 710 West St., (Wilmington-Peotone Road), Peotone. 708-258-9359; www.willcountyfair.org. Hours are 10 a.m.-midnight Aug. 21, 8 a.m.-midnight Aug. 22-25. Tickets: $5; children 9 and under free. Seniors and veterans, $2 on Aug. 22.
Family Day at the Will County Fair is Aug. 21 and features the 10th annual Children’s Ping Pong Ball Drop at 5:30 p.m. Also at the fair, there are 4-H exhibits, a carnival with ride specials, Power Wheels derby Aug. 23-24, a sock hop and 4-H livestock auction Aug. 24 and baby show Aug. 25. The 10th annual Chili Cook-off is at 1 p.m. Aug. 25.
Beer garden entertainment includes Time Bandit Aug. 22 Backpaiges Aug. 23, High Anxiety Aug. 24 and Cosmic Rewind Aug. 25.
Grandstand entertainment
Aug. 22: I.T.P.A. tractor and truck pull, 6:30 p.m.; $8
Aug. 23: Demolition derby, 7:30 p.m.; $10
Aug. 24: Demolition derby, 6:30 p.m.; $10
Aug. 25: Rodeo, 2 p.m.; $8
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Lake County News-Sun.
